Bucking big odds

Far from peak form, the odds for Samantha Kyle Catantan securing a slot in the 2024 Paris Olympics were not very enticing.

But the Filipino fencing ace dug really deep to rule the Asian and Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, late Saturday evening and give the Philippines another bet for a second gold medal in the Games.

“Winning a medal in the Olympics is very difficult, but it’s not impossible,” Catantan told the Inquirer a day after claiming a historic Olympic seat in women’s foil for PH fencing, revealing the mindset that has made her achieve so much at 22 years old.

Catantan is the first Filipino fencer to qualify for the Olympics since Walter Torres saw action in the 1992 Barcelona Games. She’s likewise the first Filipino woman and third overall to carry the country’s colors in the Games after Torres and Percy Alger in Seoul in 1988.

The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist in 2021 Vietnam and silver performer in 2023 Cambodia is also the only Filipino in history to compete in the US NCAA under a scholarship from Penn State University.

“From now until the Olympics, I intend to double my efforts and make sure to show up at my best in Paris,” said Catantan, whose journey to the glitzy fashion capital got sidetracked less than a year ago by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the semifinals of the 2023 SEA Games.

Eight months after surgery and rehab, Catantan, under the guidance of Rolando Canlas Jr., returned to action and finished 10th overall in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

“There’s no more pain, but I still continue to do workouts to strengthen my left knee,” said Catantan, who defeated the highly favored and much taller Kazakhstani, Sofiya Aktayeva 15-14, in the finals.Piercing pain

With the match tied at 13 after Catantan had stormed back from 12-9 down, the Filipino showed the stern stuff she’s made of after piercing pain stung the back of her left knee.

Catantan hobbled back to the piste after being attended to by doctors, before quickly lunging at Aktayeva twice, the last one rewarded by the referee after both fencers struck almost at the same time.

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“I just felt something painful at the back of my left knee probably because of the knee brace,” said Catantan.

“She really fought for it to the end and I’m really happy to see her success just like the other Paris-bound Filipino athletes before her,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino.

“It’s surreal. It’s really a dream come true. I worked hard to reach it and now I’m here,” said Catantan, who becomes the 12th Filipino after pole vaulter EJ Obiena, boxers Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Eumir Marcial, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Ceniza and rower Joanie Delgaco to book a Paris slot.

“I have my final exams coming up next week, so I have to go back to the US,” said Cantantan, a graduating accounting major.

“For now, I just want to enjoy these unforgettable moments,” she added with a smile.